School Budget Cuts Hit South Delta

Even with deep budget cuts schools across the state are still having to maintain high academic standards . But as MPB's Lawayne Childrey reports, having to do more with less has always been a challenge for the South Delta School District

Welcome to Rolling Fork, a small south delta town with nearly 13 hundred students. But with thousands of dollars in slated cutbacks South Delta Elementary School principle Lucille Lovette says everyone is starting to feel the pinch at home and in the classroom.

“The two plants we had a some years ago closed. And so most of our parents drive from here to Greenville or from her to Vicksburg to the two river cities that this little town sits in between. They travel for work. Those parents are having to take lots of long hours which means they work at night so those children don’t have anyone at home to help them with their lesson. So with my teachers having to take larger class sizes it would be just a very taxing burden on the teachers and their instructional processes.”

The South Delta School District has always faced challenges but according to Lovett the current economic situation is making things even worse.

“We’re in the rural area and lots of time we feel like we’re that little forgotten group of people in the Sharkey and Issaquena Counties because we sit over on the river. And so sometimes we’re almost like we’re forgotten due to the fact that it’s two counties with one public school. And what we’re looking at would be a reduction in staff more than likely because we don’t have that huge tax base to fall back on.”

School districts rely on taxes to do a number of things like hiring and retaining teachers. But when budgets have to be cut till they bleed, teachers are often the ones who bear the brunt. Just ask Mary Ann Peoples, fifth grade language arts instructor at South Delta. Even though tough economic times may mean digging deep into her own pockets to make ends meet. Peoples passion and commitment to children remains strong.

“I love my students and I’m always thinking into the future, Somebody’s gotta take care of us and if we don’t teach ‘em now there will be no one to take care of us.”

In the South Delta District, programs like drama, band and even sports programs may come up on the chopping block. Derrick Hooker is the High school Athletics Coach.

“Something may have to be cut and I know here ah, if a sport has to be cut here I think that’s going to be real detrimental to what we’re trying to do here. You know you shorten a child a stage of discipline when you take sports away. And with discipline comes success so I think now cutting sports out right now is going to hinder some places.”

Without those Friday nights blitz, Senior Football standout, Darryl Barnes may not have a chance to be scouted by some of the top college recruiters in the state.

“Oh those Friday night were very important for me and my team. Cause our coach, he got us prepared Monday through Friday. He always told us whatever we do try to do our best and make sure we stay focused and go out there and execute all enough to win. And they say that it’s hard working or whatever so I’ll just hopefully get a scholarship out of it.”

Even during rosier times South Delta schools were working with a bare bones staff. Now that additional cuts are needed Principle Lovett predicts it could result in teacher burnout.

“I’m already spending 12 hours a day from 6 to 6. I can see my teachers having to work extremely hard and just being a little more stressed out. So right now we’re just praying that we’re going to be able to make it and these budget cuts will really affect us. And uh I don’t see how we’re having to make the same sacrifices that means we must maintain the same attendance and academic achievements. That would be a pretty hard task for us.”

One bright spot for the district is the small group of Senior Citizens that work for the school through a specially funded government program.

“I have 527 students and I have 3 full time janitors and we have approximately 52 classrooms in this building so that ‘s a lots of classrooms in time to have to clean on a daily basis. And we have one who even runs off copies. They’ve even helped us out in clerical duties in the office.. So they have been really a plus for our school district . Now that’s one program I’m really hoping is not cut.”

According to the State Department of Education, South Delta is just one of 14 school districts that will be operating in the red by June 30th. And they say 10 others could possibly be added. For MPB News, I'm Lawayne Childrey.